Estevan City Council reviewed several land development items at their regular meeting Monday, including two subdivision proposals and associated zoning changes. While most passed without issue, one—a proposed subdivision on Drader Street—prompted concerns from a nearby resident regarding the decision-making process.
Council approved a motion to hold a public hearing on a land designation change for the MryGlod subdivision. This change would allow a spur line connecting to the CPR railway to be constructed across a municipal reserve lot. The motion passed without opposition.
A second proposal involved the subdivision and road closure on Drader Street. The proposal aimed to reduce the road width from 22 meters to 20 meters, aligning it with the surrounding area. The northern two meters of the roadway would be incorporated into two of the three lots created under the subdivision plan.
Richard Neufeld, land development services manager, reported no written or verbal objections. However, Wanda Michel, a long-time resident of Drader Street, attended the meeting to speak about the proposal.
Council deferred voting on the subdivision until after the public hearing to allow residents to voice concerns.
During the hearing, Michel addressed council about the lot adjacent to her property, one of the three lots in the proposal. She explained her family has maintained the lot for 25 years, including lawn care, rodent control, and tree planting, with prior approval.
Michel expressed frustration that the city was now considering selling the lot to another party despite previously denying her family’s request to purchase it more than a decade ago.
“At the time, we put considerable expense into maintaining the lot and approached the city, saying we were the ones paying for it,” Michel said. “We were told the property was needed for drainage and that the city would never sell it.”
She later learned the city had entered into an agreement in principle to sell the lot to another citizen and questioned whether residents’ concerns were being considered equitably.
“I feel my earlier request should have been entertained before the current one,” Michel added.
Councillor Shelly Veroba thanked Michel for coming forward, explaining, “You are the first person that came to me regarding this subdivision stating that you had wanted to purchase property there...I’ve always been under the assumption that all property the city owns is for sale at all times.”
Councillor Brian Johnson, acknowledging his involvement in past city council discussions, asked, “We need to go back and take a look...I want to see what’s happening here.”
City Manager Jeff Ward added, “I’ve heard from another property owner that they had brought it to the city more than 10 years ago,and received kind of the same answer. We’ll try to find something in the records.”
Michel requested written confirmation of the council’s decision by April 14 so she could consult with legal counsel.
A final decision on the subdivision has not yet been made as the city reviews the past requests.